A Multidimensional Scaling of the DSM-III Personality Disorders

From the Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington (Dr Widiger and Mr Trull), and the Department of Psychiatry, New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, New York (Drs Hurt, Clarkin, and Frances).

• The DSM-III employs a categorical model for the classification of personality disorders. A dimensional model provides certain advantages, but there has not yet been an empiric attempt to identify an optimal set of dimensions. We systematically assessed the presence of each of the symptoms for the personality disorders in 84 patients. The number of symptoms of each of the personality disorders possessed by each patient was correlated across patients, and the correlations were subjected to a multidimensional scaling program. A threedimensional solution was compared with the placements of the personality disorders predicted by dimensions published previously.